Well, that’s that then.
Celtic’s self-harming season is over, yet it still delivered a League and Scottish Cup double.
What kind of message does that send to the chasing pack?
The Parkhead club was a poster child for a divided, disorganised and dysfunctional outfit.
From the start of the season, it was a failure at every turn.
If there was a time for others to topple Celtic, this was it.
For the avoidance of doubt, they failed.
Sevco’s low-calorie cousins Hertzed it on the last day.
They were only MINUTES from exorcising the demons of 86.
Now they have the spectres of 26 haunting them.
Luvvly Jubbly.
Oh, and now they’re about to lose their talisman captain to Sevco for free.
For the basket of assets, it’s the smart move.
There’s no transfer fee, apparently, because of a clause in his contract.
His acquisition will certainly appeal to the Ibrox klanbase.
The lad himself will be on an improved salary as he moves from one nativist franchise to another.
I can’t imagine that the Gorgie chaps will be happy about this.
However, fortunately for them, they have an eloquent and dynamic spokesperson.
Regular readers will know that your humble correspondent has stated that after the budget being stretched in January, free agents would be the flavour of the summer at Sevco.
The Champions League riches are out of bounds for the season 2026/27.
Therefore, it is second-tier revenues for the third-placed club.
As previously reported, Herr Röhl has had a dignified conclave with his staff and the Stateside guys.
Despite the clamour for him to be sacked by the club’s klanbase, he’s staying put.
There is a plan, and the young German is central to that.
Very much a case of “keep calm and carry on”.
Legacy salaries will have to go, and assets (Chermiti, Raskin et al) will be sold if a willing buyer can be found.
On that front, consider Danilo Pereira da Silva being very close to the free-to-a-good-home category.
It’s not personal. It’s strictly business.
After a decade of emotional ownership, Sevco has a stable, sustainable plan for the future.
The guys in the Delaware Triangle don’t do emotion.
It’s about the Dollars.
Always the Dollars.
At the home of the Champions, all that is required is basic competence, and it will be domination once again.
Discover more from Phil Mac Giolla Bháin
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
So I’m a bit indifferent about O’Neill staying or going, there’s a positive in each. Na Ive already changed my mind, I don’t trust the board to get it right let’s keep him. What I’m completely brassed off about however is that other clubs have started doing business and we are not eveñn on the starting blocks for a manager and consequently players.
The incompetence and the waiting on Desmond’s whim has depressingly already started once again.
i.e. Is Martin staying or not. Apparently a meeting in a few weeks.
When do the Champions League qualifiers start ???. Here we go again ……True enough !!(
Basic competence is a skill that is alien to the current incumbents of the Celtic plc boardroom
If Celtic get their act together, they can only get stronger next season. The trouble is that we have very little faith in that happening when you look back on things pre Martin.
Get O’Neil and his background team tied down and with some grown up approach to recruitment, they can only improve. The rangers will strengthen, hearts will challenge again so, Celtic have to get their act together if they are to maintain their position of being the dominant force in Scotland.
He might fail his medical after getting a right doing during the mass riot at celtic park last week
You can look this up but goals from striker in Scottish fitba tend to drop off a cliff at age 31.
Shankland with be 31 in in August.
This is a great move for 2 people… shankland and Celtic.